Chemical fire-extinguishing apparatus.



J. R. HAMILTON. CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS;

APPL'CATION FILED JANAZI, I914.

n H H m 2 W W d e t H 6 t a P M #MM/ 7 8 E 8 9 2 m m W ATTORNEYS para snares rarnnr onrro.

JOHN R. HAMILTON, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SYPI-IO-CHEMTCAL SPRINKLER CORPORATION, TION OF NEW YORK.

OF CBQTON ONJ-IUDSON, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- CHEMICAL FIRE-EXTINGUISHIN'G APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. HAMILTON,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Yonkers, Westchester county, New York, have made certain new and useful Inventions Relating to Chemical Fire-Extinguislr ing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the same.

This invention relates especially to chemical fire extinguishing apparatus in which the distributing system which may be of the dry pipe type is under emergency conditions supplied with extinguishing liquid from a chemical pressure liquid supply tank. This tank may be provided adjacent its top portion with a removable casing carrying an acid chamber and connected siphon which may be operated by the fluid pressures caused during the emergency condition of the system. b a l l The drawing shows in a somewhat diagrammatic way a sectional elevation of an illustrative form of this invention.

The distributing system may be of any suitable form as Figure 1 while Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section and may comprise one or more supply pipes or risers 1 and connected distributing pipes, such as 2, on which any suitable distributing devices, such as automatic sprinkler heads 3, -may be mounted at various points. Suitable hose connections, such as 5, may be arrangedat various parts of the distributing system so as to operate connected hose lines when the valves 4: are open. The distributing system which is preferably though not necessarily of the dry pipe type, may be connected in any suitable way with the chemical pressure liquid supply tank, as for instance, by the depending tank connection having if desired a flaring lower end 7 adjacent the bottom of the tank protected by a suitable screen 6. There may also be arranged a suitable equalizing connection oraperture communicating with the air space of the tank to take care of temperature expansion and other slight pressure variations, and for this purpose the equalizing aperture 22 may be formed adjacent the top of the tank connece tion. 7 The liquid supply tank 8 of any suitable pe constru tion is. normally filled to Specification of Letters l atent.

Application filed January 21, 1914. Serial No; 813,372.

- Patented oat. 2, 19 1's.-

thedesired'extent with extinguishing liquid 13 whlch may comprise suitable carbonate material dissolved for instance throughout theliquid and with which the sulfuric or other acid is adapted to cooperate under emergency conditions to quickly generate the deslred high pressure by chemical action and force the extinguishing liquid out of the,

tank into the distributing system to be discharged therefrom at h-ighworking pressure, The mixing devices used for "effecting themixture of these chemicals preferably com.- prise an acid chamber, an acid discharging siphon cooperating therewith and an air or pressure chamber communicating in any'deslred way Wltll the acid chamber so as to cause sufficient pressure difference under emergency conditionsto start the siphon. It is advantageous to have a removable casing of any suitable construction, such as 21, mounted in the upper portion of the tank to support the acid chamber and'allow for its convenient removal for recharging, etc.

This casing may as indicated be secured as by the bolts 20 to the projecting flange 11 of the tankand may support in any suitable way the acid chamber 15 so asto preferably although not necessarily have the normal acid level considerably above the liquid level in the tank, it being of course understood that the acid containing portion of the chamber may be lined with lead or other acid resisting material or formed thereof. The acid discharging siphon which maybe formed in whole or in part of similar acid resisting material may be arranged. to cooperate in any suitable way with the acid chamber and tank and may, if desired, be

provided with an admission leg, such as 14,

extending considerably above the normal acid level in the acid tank so as to minimize undesirable] action by requiring a rise of a considerable portion of a foot at least be fore the acid reaches the top of the siphon.

The discharge leg of the siphon may be arranged substantially in line with thevacid chamber in any desired way and may with advantage be arranged to be removed through the hole in the flange to which the casing is' secured; This discharge leg is preferably if not necessarily extended considerably below the -liquid level in the tank so that its dischar e end 22 may extend a foote t o' below in some cases, and when the extinguishing liquid is discharged from the tank during emergency conditions the acid discharge tends toincrease so as tomake the working pressure, increase more gradually as is desirable in many cases. If desired the communicating air chamber may be formed in the upper part of the remo.vable casing 21 so as to directly communicate with the acid chamber and be a substantiat continuation thereof.

An air connection of any suitable form is also preferably provided between the air chamber andv the air space in the tank above the liquid therein. It is also desirable to provide a suitable check. valve coperati'ng with the air connection so as to insure. the

, reliable starting of the siphon action and so as to thereafter insure under emergency conditions a large area passage into the .air chamber and promote the continuation of the siphon action. In order to minimize the chance of the siphon action being started by accidental temperature expansion or other gradual pressure changes: during the. normal condition of the system, it is alsO desirable to have a small area compensating passage between the air chamber and airspace of the tank which may, if desired, be. combined with. the check valve- If desired, the air connection 17 communicatingwith the air chamber 19 may be arranged within. the removable casing 21 and may have a suitable check valve, such as 18, arranged adjacent its lower portion for more convenient cleaning and inspection when the casing is removed, so that when the. emergency siphon action has been started and the chemically generated pressure increases in the tank this check valve is free. to rise against the guiding ribs or projection 16,- as shown in Fig. 2 so as to give a largearea opening through this air connection intothe pressure chamber above the acid, so that. the air pressurev both above and below the acid are thus substantially equalized allowing the siphon discharge of the acid into the carbonate material to continue. This, check valve may be conveniently formed with a, pin hole or small. area equalizing pas.- sage 19 therethrough so as, to. allow the. gradual equalizing flow of air in either direction; between the air chamber, and. the air tank, this equalizing passage being preferably, however, considerably smaller than the equalizing aperture 22 or other means. of relieving the air pressure in. the tank. under emergency conditions sov that. this equalizing passage does not interfere with. the emergency starting of the siphon.

This invention has been. described in. connection with a. number of illustrative em.- bodi'ments,. forms, elements, material's. parts and arrangements,.to the details ofwhilch. disclosure. the. invention. is. not. of course. tov belimited since. What. is claimed; asnew. and

what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. In. chemicalv fire extinguishing apparatus, a dry piped-istributing system. comprising automatic sprinkler heads and hose connection distributing devices, a pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material and chemical: mixing devices comprising a removable casing adapted to be secured to a flange in the upper-portion of said tank, an acid chamber supported by said casing to have the normal acid level above the liquid level. in, said tank, the upper continuation of. said. acid chamber constituting an air pressure chamber communicating with said acid. chamber in; said casing. and an acid discharge siphonhaving an admission leg communicating, with sai'd'acid chamber and ex.- tending above they normal acid level thereinand a discharge leg communicating, with said tank and, extending considerably below the normal level of liquid'in said tank and removable with said casing, said; removable casing comprising an air connection between said air chamber and the air space of said tankv provided with an inwardly opening check valve. and a small area equalizing passage formed in said check valve.

2. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a, dry' pipe distributing system comprising automatic distributing devices a pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material and chemical. mixing devices comprising a removable casing adapted to be secured to the upper portion of said tank, an acid chamber supported by said casing to have the normal acid level above the liquid level in said tank, an air pressure chamber communicating with said; acid chamber in said. casing and an. acid discharge siphon having an admission leg communicating with saidacid chamber and extending above the normal acid level. therein. and a discharge leg communicating with said tank and. removable with said; casing, said removablecasing comprising an air connection between said air, chamber and the air space of said tank provided with an inwardly open.-

ing check valve and a. small area equallzing secured to the upper portion of said. tank, an. acid. chamber supported by said casing to, have the normal acid level above the liquid level in said tank, an air pressure.

chamber communicating with said acid chamber, andv an, acid" discharge. siphon having an admission leg communicating with said acid chamber and a discharge leg communicating with said tank and removable with said casing, said removable casing comprising an air connection between said air chamber and the air space of said tank provided with an inwardly opening check valve.

4. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a dry pipe distributing system com prising automatic sprinkler heads and hose connection distributing devices, a connected pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material and chemical mixing devices comprising a removable casing adapted to be secured to the upper portion of said tank and comprising an acid chamber, a communicating air pressure chamber and an acid discharge siphon having an admission leg communicating with said acid chamber and extending above the normal acid level therein and a discharge leg communieating with said tank and extending considerably below the normal level of liquid in said tank and removable with said casing, said removable casing comprising an air connection between said air chamber and the air space of said tank provided with a check valve and a small area equalizing passage formed in said check valve.

5. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system comprising distributing devices, a connected pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquid and chemical mixing devices comprising a removable casing adapted to be secured to said tank and comprising an acid chamber, a communicating air pressure chamber and an acid discharge siphon having an admission leg communicating with said acid chamber and extending above the normal acid level therein and a discharge leg communicating with said tank, said removable casing comprising an air connection between said air chamber and the air space of said tank provided with a check valve and a small area equalizing passage.

6. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system comprising distributing devices, a pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquid and cooperating chemical mixing devices comprising a removable chemical chamber, a communicating air chamber, a discharge siphon communicating with said chemical chamber and with said tank and a small area equalizing passage connected to said air chamber and to the air space of said tank to equalize the gradual pressure changes during the normal condition of the system and allow the creation of the sudden pressure changes eifecting the emer-- gency actuation of said siphon.

7 In chemical fire extinguishing appa ratus, a dry pipe distributing system comprising automatic distributing devices, a

ing with said acid chamber and with said tank, said removable casing-comprising an air connection between said air chamber and the air space of said tank provided with an inwardly opening check valve and a small area equalizing passage formed in said check valve. I

8. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a dry pipe distributing system comprising distributing devices, a pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquid containing carbonate material and chemical mixing devices comprising an acidchamber to have the normal acid level above the liquid level in said tank, a communicating air pressure chamber, an. acid discharge siphon communicating with said acid chamber and extending above the normal acid level therein and having a discharge leg communicating with said tank and extending considerably below the normal level of liquid in said tank, an air connection between said air chamber and the air space of said tank provided with an inwardly opening check valve and a small area equalizing passage formed in said check valve.

9. In chemical fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system comprising distributing devices, a pressure liquid supply tank charged with extinguishing liquid con taining carbonate material and chemical mix:

JOHN R. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

HARRY L. DUNCAN, JEssrE B. KAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. 0. 

